The Future of Consumerist

Over the last twelve years, Consumerist has been a steadfast proponent and voice on behalf of consumers, from exposing shady practices by secretive cable companies to pushing for action against dodgy payday lenders. Now, we’re joining forces with Consumer Reports, our parent organization, to cultivate the next generation of consumer advocacy.

Stay tuned as Consumerist’s current and future content finds its home as a part of the Consumer Reports brand. In the meantime, you can access existing Consumerist content below, and we encourage you to visit Consumer Reports to read the latest consumer news.

Amassing a giant chunk of change is the best way to nail down a lower payment for a vehicle or home, but the process can be so long and arduous that it prevents you from proceeding. The key to following through with your goal is to set a reasonable plan in place and stick to it. The tough part is to find a way to get the ball rolling.

* Sell stuff. If you own a big-ticket luxury item — say, an all-terrain vehicle, golf clubs or pool table you hardly use — consider selling them off to raise some quick funds. An initial boost in funding tends to make it easier to add on to the pile.

* Get liquid. If you’ve got money tied up in investments, think about pulling out what you can to free up some cash. If you’ve got a broker, talk about the tax implications to make sure you’re timing and implementing your transactions so you’re not hit with unnecessary taxes and fees.

* Beg. It can be humiliating to approach parents or other loved ones for a loan or gift, but a lot of people do it. To avoid hard feelings, nail down an agreement in writing about how you’ll use and repay the funds.